How Not To Murder Your Grumpy
Humour/Non-Fiction
Release date 01.06.2013
Published by Safkhet Publishing
ISBN 978-1-908208-16-3
Is your Grumpy Old Man getting under your feet? Is he
wrestling with retirement? Are you wondering if you should bundle him up and
entrust him to basket-weaving classes? Then this book could be the answer to
your prayers. This light hearted guide is packed full of lively ideas,
anecdotes and quips. Not only does it set out to provide laughs, but offers
over 700 ideas and ways to keep a Grumpy Old Man occupied.
From collecting airline sick bags to zorbing, you will be
sure to find an absorbing pastime for your beloved curmudgeon. There are
examples of those who have faced extraordinary challenges in older age,
fascinating facts to interest a reluctant partner and innovative ideas
drizzled, of course, with a large dollop of humour.
Written tongue-in-cheek, this book succeeds in proving that
getting older doesn't mean the end of life or having fun. It provides amusing
answers to the question, "How on Earth will my husband fill in his time in
his retirement?" It offers suggestions on what might, or most certainly
might not, amuse him. Ideal for trivia buffs, those approaching retirement, (or
just at a loose end) and frustrated women who have an irritable male on their
hands, this book will lighten any mood and may even prevent the odd murder.
The following is an
excerpt from a recent article published in Men’s Health on NBC News
The look: A scowling face, a
wagging finger, and a shaking head. The targets: The economy. Teenagers. Windmills.
Some informally dub it “grumpy old
man complex.” British author Carol Wyer labels it “irritable male syndrome,” a
spike in the outward crankiness of guys of a certain age.
“Women have friends and we talk
about our problems and we take medication and all that kind of stuff. But for
men, it’s something they suppress. It’s a male thing ,” says Wyer, author of the upcoming humor book “How Not To Murder Your Grumpy."
Feeling that they no longer are
useful, especially, if a man has held an important position in employment prior
to retirement, "can result in severe depression at worst and general
grumpiness at best,” Wyer said.
Wyer's husband of 25 years, John,
turned 60 this year and became very grumpy just after his birthday, she says.
"I have spoken to other women in the same position who have said exactly
the same: Husbands, even those who have looked forward to a big birthday, have
become morose soon after,” Wyer says.
John Wyer, who owned his own
business and misses "the cut and thrust" of his work, has
self-diagnosed his own occasionally gloomy anger as something of a byproduct of
Western society’s collective view toward — and value of — people who are 60 or
beyond.
“One of the things that really took
hold of me was the fact that I was approaching a ripe old age, let’s say, and I
felt society can cast you off as a little bit of a no-hoper. I just feel that
isn’t right. I feel people in increasing years have a lot to offer. And they
shouldn’t cast off to one side. And I suppose my grumpiness is a little bit of
a protest against sliding down that particular route,” he said.
“You think, well, gosh, there’s got to be to be something a
little more than this. Being grumpy is just my way of getting through it and
laughing at myself.”
About the Author:
After
completing a degree in French and English, Carol E Wyer became a language
teacher. She actually began her working life abroad, in Casablanca, Morocco,
where she taught English as a Foreign Language in an American Language school.
It was soon discovered that she could speak French rather well, and she became
a translator and teacher to large organisations and companies such as ‘Regie de
Tabac’, Morocco’s largest cigarette company, and the Mediterranean Shipping
Company.
After a few years she was ‘head-hunted ‘to run the English
as a Foreign Language department of a private school in the UK. (Imagine
Hogwarts without the wizardry.)
Carol taught English up to, and
including ‘A’ Level, along with English as a Foreign Language. She also
qualified to teach pupils with Dyslexia and became Head of English for Special
Needs.
In 1988, Carol set up her own language company called
Language 2000 Ltd and worked in schools and for companies. She taught a variety
of languages, including basic Japanese, to all ages and translated documents.
A recurrence of spinal difficulties
that began when she was a teenager, forced her to give up teaching and choose a
new direction. In order to deal with her health problems, Carol attended a
fitness course (Premier), took the qualifications to become a fitness
instructor and became a personal trainer. That led her to become a trainer for
others, particularly for older people who, like herself, had undergone major
surgery.
Thanks to older age, Carol now no
longer trains people, but she is currently writing a series of novels, articles
and books which takes a humorous look at getting older. It is her hope that
they will educate through laughter and help others appreciate life.
Carol has written several short
stories over the years, including humorous books for children which served to
teach them French. She was not able to fulfil her desire to be a full-time
author until two years ago when her son flew from the nest, leaving his bedroom
which Carol turned into her office.
Since then, she has written two
novels, Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines
and Surfing in Stilettos, both of
which have enjoyed media attention and success, becoming best sellers and
winning awards.
Carol writes
regularly for author websites and she has recently become a contributing author
on a help guide entitled Tutorials and
Tools for Prospering in a Digital Age.
Carol’s links:
Amazon US: Click here
Author Page : Click here
FeedARead (Paperback version) Surfing in Stilettos : Click here
FeedARead (Paperback version) Mini Skirts and Laughter
Lines: Click here
Website: Click here
loveahappyending.com: Click here
Thornberry Publishing: Click here
Safkhet Publishing: Click here
And:
Safkhet Publishing, How Not to Murder your Grumpy - Click here
Blog: Facing 50 with Humour - Click here
Facebook: For Carol E Wyer - Click here
Twitter: Carol E Wyer - Click here
Goodreads:Carol E Wyer author page - Click here
Member of Romantic Novelists Association: http://www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org/index.php/about/author/carol_wyer
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How to Murder Your Grumpy is on tour with Fiction Addiction Book Tours.
Thanks for joining us! Have fun reading this amusing book!
Many thanks indeed for hosting me (and Grumpy, of course)here today. I am really looking forward to reading your review too.
ReplyDeleteJust off to take Grumpy jet-walking - a variation on wing-walking but much more chance of him falling off! ;)
Thanks for spotlighting HNTMY Lisa.
ReplyDeleteShaz
You're really getting around. Carol. lol
ReplyDeleteI'd love to read a book review on HNTMYG by Mr Grumpy himself. I wonder what he'd say? ha ha.
ReplyDelete